with this 2012 A publication of the Echo Press, January 2012 Cover photo courtesy of Glimpse Photography Make Your Dreams Come True... Let us help you create the wedding of your dreams. Contact our Conference Services department at (320) 762-1124 Outdoor ceremonies & receptions Ballroom space with seating for up to 400 people Wedding packages that include complimentary room Complimentary use of for Bride & Groom tablecloths & linen napkins Darling Refl ections Spa Complimentary centerpieces available packages available Decoration packages available Special Guest Room Rates in our Newly Renovated Guest Rooms 320-762-1124 • www.arrowwoodresort.com • 2100 Arrowwood Lane NE, Alexandria R001664732 2 With this Ring ~ January 2012 Photos courtesy of Glimpse Photography Bridal Get ready for the Bridal Event of the Year! EXTRAVAGANZA SUN., JANUARY 22 Tickets only $3 NOON-3 PM Continuous Fashion Show HOLIDAY INN, in the ballroom ALEXANDRIA Over 50 exhibitors Participating MERCHANTS Al Edwards Flashback Productions Midsota Plastic Surgeons Entertainment Freeport Floral Pearl Limosine Allure Tan & Spa Geyer Wedding & Party Petes County Market Anna’s Wedding Cakes Store Prairie Event Center The Bridal Boutique & Glamour, Glitz & Glitter Randy’s Mens Wear Outlet Glimpse Photography Sam’s Club Broadway Ballroom HPS Rental Sheri’s Studio Inc Broadway Floral Hampton Inn & Suites Special Event Bursch Travel Herbergers Stella & Dot Jewelry Celebrations Bridal & In Styles Salon & Spa Vanessa Koep Formalwear Jackie J’s Bridal Photography Cold Spring Bakery, Inc. John Young DJ Versatile Designs/LA Complete Music Video Karrow Jewelers Celebrations Photo Livewire Entertainment VFW Post 936 Couture Floral Boutique Long Lake Lodge LLC Vows on Video Creations…an event Mary Kay Cosmetics VS Designs/Garden sponsored by studio MCA Enterprises Gallery Diekman’s Jewelry Mestads Bridal & Formal Water’s Edge Spa, PC Downtown Floral Co Wear Eldens Food Fair Meyer’s Photography Ella’s Salon Studio R001668510 With this Ring ~ January 2012 3 elcome to the 2012 Echo Press wedding planner. This publication is meant to be a helpful reference guide for planning your Wwedding day and preparing for marriage. In addition to containing information on planning your wedding, financial planning and other aspects of preparing to get married, it also includes handy checklists for all the tasks that need to be done by the bride and groom before the wedding. It also contains infor- mation on many of the businesses that specialize in wedding-related services or products. We hope this wedding planning guide serves as a handy reference to help you plan your most important day! index Countdown to your wedding day .......5 Services directory.....................19-21 Top wedding planning questions.......6 Wedding party roles .......................22 Who pays for what?..........................8 Plan the wedding of your dreams ...24 Wedding song alternatives .............10 Surviving wedding expenses...........26 Before you tie the knot...................12 Wedding video advantages.............28 Money talks for newlyweds.............15 Honeymoon saving strategies.........30 Secrets to a happy marriage ..........16 Planning forms, checklists ........31-38 Echo Press announcements ...........17 Special Projects Editor: Tara Bitzan • Special Projects Reporter: Lowell Anderson Cover by: Kelsey Langager • Layout and design by Echo Press graphic department Publisher: Jody Hanson • Echo Press • www.echopress.com • (320)763-3133 Image Courtesy of Glimpse Photography A Publication of the Echo Press R001667223 4 With this Ring ~ January 2012 Countdown to your wedding day o help you get a better understanding of how to plan a 2 to 3 months wedding and when you should be making certain deci- Finalize your guest list and mail out your invitations. If your guest list sions, here’s a time frame you can follow that should en- includes many people who are spread out geographically, mail the in- sure your wedding goes off as smoothly as possible. vitations as close to 12 weeks in advance as possible. This is also a T good time to finalize your menu choices for your guests, and find all your wedding accessories such as the ring pillow, candles, etc. Also, since it 10 to 12 months is tradition to provide gifts for those in the wedding party as well as the If you haven’t done it already, this is a good time to announce your parents of the bride and groom, this is a good time to decide on and engagement and introduce your respective families. Since most recep- purchase those gifts. Just to be safe, confirm that all groomsmen have tion halls and churches have busy wedding schedules, it is important ordered their tuxedos and finalize all transportation, both to and from to book both as early as possible, preferably the wedding and to the airport for your hon- at least a year in advance of your wedding eymoon. day. It’s also a good idea to start putting to- gether a guest list around this time and ask your parents whom they’d like to invite as 1 to 2 months well. Also, since your budget will determine Schedule the first bridal-gown fitting. Also almost every aspect of your wedding, sitting finalize the readings you’d prefer during the down and determining what you can spend ceremony and mail them out to anyone who – and developing a savings plan – should be has agreed to do a reading. If your family first and foremost. prefers to host a small gathering for close family and friends after the wedding re- hearsal, the night before the wedding, this 6 to 9 months is a good time to order any food or drinks This is the time to start booking some you might want to serve that night, or make services, such as a florist, caterer, a DJ or a restaurant reservation. band, and a photographer. However, some of the more experienced DJs, bands and photographers might have their schedules 3 to 4 weeks booked a year in advance, so this is some- Confirm your honeymoon arrangements thing you’ll want to consider doing shortly and see if your wedding rings are ready. This after you choose a wedding date. Also, this is also when you should get your marriage li- is a good time to inform any guests who will cense and check the guest list to see who be traveling significant distances of the date has and hasn’t sent an RSVP. For those who of your wedding. The earlier your guests can have yet to RSVP, you might want to contact book a flight, the less expensive that flight them so you can get a closer idea of what will be. This is also a good time to order the head count will be. You should also pre- gowns for both the bride and bridesmaids, pare and order your wedding program as some manufacturers require a few Image Courtesy of Glimpse Photography around this time. months to ship to bridal shops. You might want to ask someone such as your priest or rabbi to be the officiant of your wedding. And just as out-of-town guests will save travel dollars by 1 to 2 weeks booking flights early, you will likely save money, too, if you book your Get a final attendance count and submit it to the caterer as soon as honeymoon early. you know it, while also providing a final seating chart. Pick up the wed- ding gown and tuxedo. Make sure the wedding party picks up their at- tire. Also, finalize your vows and confirm all wedding-day details such 4 to 5 months as transportation, photo schedules, and addresses. And don’t forget to This is a good time to decide on a wedding invitation. Also, now is pack for your honeymoon. an ideal time to start hunting for a wedding cake by sampling a num- ber of different bakeries and their cakes before ultimately making a decision. Just to be sure, confirm that all of the bridesmaids have or- The day before dered their gowns and start looking for tuxedos for the groom and the This is mainly when you rehearse for the ceremony and make any groomsmen. If you haven’t done so already, purchase your wedding final confirmations you might have to make. Also, make sure to get rings and talk to the people that you would like to have participate in some sleep so you’ll look good in all of your wedding-day photos. the wedding ceremony. (MS) With this Ring ~ January 2012 5 You’re engaged! NOW WHAT? Top four wedding planning questions to answer oliday season is engagement season. But after he pops ple as possible, start by considering in what season you would like to the question and she says “yes,” the reality of wedding be married. Would you prefer a spring ceremony? Or do you dream of a holiday wedding? By narrowing down the season, and selecting it well planning sets in. Here are the top four questions you in advance, you’ll be able to secure a date that will work for everyone. Hwill need to answer to make your wedding planning jour- ney a pleasant experience. Where do we want to get “After Valentine’s Day, the holidays are the most popular time of year for couples to become engaged,” said wedding planning expert Ray- married and have our reception? mond Miller of My Wedding Reception Ideas.com. “Many brides-to-be Will you have a destination wedding? Or do you want to keep it who get engaged over the holi- local? While wedding planning is usually most successful when done days will begin their planning ef- well in advance, if you’re interested in a destination wedding, planning forts in the first months of the far ahead is essential. Popular destinations book quickly in prime wed- new year.